Iron Maiden
The 12 Worst Heavy Metal Albums of All Time
What makes a truly awful metal album? It’s not just a lack of riffs, awful production, or quarter-assed vocal takes. Most of these records suffer from overdosing on compromise, whether it’s hopelessly chasing a trendy sound or a failure to age gracefully; others have visions more realized yet too noxious to raise the horns with any pride. It shouldn’t shock you that most of these albums were released in the late 90s to the early 2000s – metal’s crisis years when older bands couldn’t make sense (or were outright hostile towards) nu-metal and what was left of alternative rock, and before the MTV2 Headbangers Ball revival both spread metalcore around the world and reignited a lot of older thrashers’ careers. Those really were the Dark Ages. Metal should make you want to sin for the greater go...
The 50 Best Albums of 1982
Looking back at 1982 in music, the headline is obvious: Thriller Sells A Bajillion Copies, Becomes World’s Biggest Album. But is it the year’s best album? Funny enough, Michael Jackson‘s sixth LP hardly even affected the charts that year — it snuck out in late November, just as Men at Work’s 1981 blockbuster, Business as Usual, began its commercial stranglehold in the U.S. Only one record on our list, Fleetwood Mac‘s chart-targeted Tusk follow-up, Mirage, hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200. (Doesn’t it seem weird, looking back, that Prince‘s 1999 peaked at No. 9?) Lots of fascinating shit was happening in 1982, and you didn’t always find it on the radio. On our list, we included everything from early hip-hop (Grandmaster Flash) to horror-punk (Misfits) to lo-fi synth-pop (Solid Space). Revisit...
Rock Hall of Fame 2021 Nominations: The Snubs, Surprises, and Long Shots
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame traditionally announces its annual slate of nominees in October and narrows it down to a set of official inductees in December. But like just about everything else, the Rock Hall’s schedule was disrupted last year by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the May induction ceremony concert delayed and downsized to a taped HBO special that aired in November. But this week, the gatekeepers in Cleveland finally announced the slate of 16 acts that will be narrowed down later this year to the five or seven artists who encompass the Class of 2021: Mary J. BligeKate BushDevoFoo FightersThe Go-Go’sIron MaidenJay-ZChaka KhanCarole KingFela KutiLL Cool JNew York DollsRage Against the MachineTodd RundgrenTina TurnerDionne Warwick Diversity has never been a particular strength of t...
Foo Fighters, Rage Against the Machine, Iron Maiden Among Nominees for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Among the 16 nominees for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2021 are some rock heavy hitters, including Foo Fighters, Iron Maiden, the Go-Go’s, Rage Against the Machine, Devo, New York Dolls and Todd Rundgren. Rounding out the nominees are Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Tina Turner, Kate Bush, Chaka Khan, Carole King, Fela Kuti, LL Cool J and Dionne Warwick. Top vote-getters will be announced in May and inducted at a ceremony that will take place in Cleveland in the fall. There’s a 25-year-rule for eligibility; each nominee’s first single or album had to have been released in 1995 or earlier. Seven of the 16 acts on the ballot (Foo Fighters, the Go-Go’s, Iron Maiden, Jay-Z, Carole King, Fela Kuti, and Dionne Warwick) are appearing for the first time. Tina Turner ...
Dethklok, Protest the Hero Members Cover Oingo Boingo in Time for Halloween
Two Minutes to Late Night continues to celebrate Halloween with an Iron Maiden-ized version of the mosh-worthy tune “Dead Man’s Party” originally done by Los Angeles-based new wave legends Oingo Boingo. Dethklok guitarist Nili Brosh — who also tours with Oingo Boingo leader Danny Elfman — plays on the tune while wearing a Nightmare Before Christmas facemask, a nod to Elfman’s soundtrack work on the film. Other musicians include Protest the Hero drummer Michael Ieradi and vocalist Rody Walker, along with bassist Pete Green of Giraffe Tongue Orchestra and Dethklok. Dethklok was created for the Adult Swim show Metalocalypse, which is now canceled, but the band lives on. For October, Two Minutes to Late Night, which features punk and metal musicians jamming remotely on...
BMG Commits to Review of Historic Contracts, Diversity Shakeup In Pledge Against Racism
In the wake of international protests against the death of George Floyd and other Black men and women at the hand of police officers, BMG has committed to action. And timeframes. One week on from “Black Out Tuesday,” BMG has set out its stance on racism and inequality. The music company circulated a message to thousands of its artists and songwriters with a pledge: “We need to play our part in addressing historical injustices inflicted on black people.” Mindful of the music industry’s “record of shameful treatment of black artists,” the message reads, “we have begun a review of all historic record contracts. If any inequities or anomalies are found, BMG will create a plan to address them within 30 days.” BMG also promises to address diversity within its workplace. “...
